Study: Blood thinner, NSAID combination raises bleeding risk

Editor's Note

Research reveals combining non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with blood thinners heightened bleeding risk across multiple organ systems, HealthDay reported November 18.

The study analyzed nearly 52,000 Danish patients prescribed blood thinners between 2012 and 2022, examining NSAID interactions with multiple anticoagulants including rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, and warfarin.

As reported by HealthDay, the use of NSAIDs available only by prescription in Denmark (diclofenac and naproxen) eased data tracking for patients prescribed those drugs and a blood thinner. Naproxen increased bleeding risk by 4 times, Diclofenac by 3 times, and Ibuprofen by nearly 2.

According to HealthDay, patients taking one of these drugs with a blood thinner experienced the following heightened risk:

• 2.2 times higher gut bleed risk
• 3.2 times higher brain bleed risk
• 1.4 times higher lung bleed risk
• 1.6 times higher urinary tract bleed risk
• Triple risk of anemia